I found these press releases off team websites, other hockey blogs or online.
BCHL News & Trades:
Daerendinger Commits To Bulldogs:
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs received a commitment from 17-year-old defenseman Max Daerendinger. The Vancouver native spent 2014-15 with the Burnaby Winter Club Academy Prep team, scoring nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 21 games. He added one assist in three playoff games for BWC. Daerendinger also skated in six games with the Bulldogs as an affiliate player, but didn't post any points.
Salmon Arm-Grande Prairie Trade:
The Salmon Arm SilverBacks acquired 20-year-old centre Dustin Gorgi from Grande Prairie of the AJHL as future considerations from the January 10th trade that saw 19-year-old defenseman Karl El-Mir join the Storm. Gorgi, who's from Red Deer, AB, had 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 58 games split between the Olds Grizzlys and Grande Prairie. He had 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 60 games with Olds in 2013-14.
Ball Commits To Powell River:
The Powell River Kings are proud to announce the commitment of local player Rylan Ball for the 2015/2016 season. Ball, 20, is entering his final year of Junior eligibility, however comes with plenty of experience. In 2013/14, he played 30 games for the Cowichan Valley Capitals and registered 3 assists. This past season, he joined the Kings as an affiliate player from the VIJHL’s Westshore Wolves, putting up 2 goals and 5 assists in 16 regular season and playoff games in addition to the 12-19-31 in 28 games he recorded with Westshore. “It’s always been a goal of mine to play Junior A hockey” says Ball. “I had a brief stint with the Capitals and now this coming season I’m looking forward to having a good year and build on what I did last season in Powell River with a great bunch of guys.” “Rylan is a player we’re obviously very familiar with being a local kid, and last season as well” says Kings Head Coach and General Manager Kent Lewis. “He came in last year and filled a role for us down the stretch last season, playing some big minutes and contributing along the way. Because of that, he earned a spot on our team this year.” The 6’0, 185lb mobile defenceman bought versatility to the Kings lineup last season as Ball has played both forward and defenceman at the Junior level, but it’s the simplicity of his game that shone through. “Moving up from Junior B to the BCHL there’s a lot more skill, but it’s the pace of the game that’s the biggest difference” says Ball on the challenge of moving up. “You have to think and react a lot faster, you can’t play the puck too much, you almost have to dumb down your game and just make the simple play because mistakes get converted more in the BCHL.” “He gives us a lot of options both up front and on the blue line” says Lewis. “He came in down the stretch and into playoffs, and did really well. He went on the powerplay, he’s a good skater and will generate some good scoring opportunities from the point.” That post season experience is a big boost ahead of the 2015/ 2016 season according to Ball. “Playoffs was a bonus, playing 2 series with Westshore then getting to play in Powell River. It was a huge confidence booster coming into the end of the season, and I was excited to play with a great group of guys (in Powell River) and it’s a shame we didn’t go further.” In preparation for the new season, Ball is taking a step back for the time being, before moving into full training ahead of camp in August and the season in September. “I’m enjoying time away from hockey for now” says Ball. “Between Westshore and Powell River last year, it was a lot of hockey and some big minutes, so I’m taking a short break before getting into my regular off-season program, training hard and getting ready for another tough season.” The Kings will hold a pair of Spring Identification Camps in late May, one in Comox and the other in Kamloops. Main camp in Powell River will be at the end of August before the season begins again early September.
Tetteh Commits To Trail Smoke Eaters:
The Trail Smoke Eaters added 16-year-old defenseman Nii Noi Tetteh to their "New Recruits" on the BCHL website. The Revelstoke, BC product played for his hometown Grizzlies of the KIJHL in 2014-15, registering 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 49 games.
Colley, Ponak, McCloskey & Johnson Commit To Spruce Kings:
The Prince George Spruce Kings announced the commitment of four players following their spring camp last weekend. Heading to PG are three members of the BC Major Midget League champion Vancouver NE Chiefs, and one member of the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds. 17-year-olds Parker Colley and Nic Ponak, who are both forwards, along with 17-year-old goaltender Liam McCloskey join 16-year-old forward Kyle Johnson on the Spruce Kings. Colley had 64 points (18 goals, 46 assists) in 40 games last season with the Chiefs while Johnson finished with 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists), also in 40 games. McCloskey started more than half of the Chiefs' regular season games, finishing with a 15-2-3 record along with a 2.25 goals-against-average. Ponak notched 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) in 37 games with the Thunderbirds.
Barrow Commits To Rivermen:
Langley announced the commitment of 18-year-old forward Ryan Barrow for the 2015-16 season. Barrow is from Cochrane, AB, and had 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in 31 games with the Banff Bears of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League. He added 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 27 games with the Banff Hockey Academy Prep team, which plays in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
Hards Commits To Surrey Eagles:
16-year-old forward Darren Hards has committed to the Surrey Eagles for next season. The Prince George product had 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 34 games with the Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget League in 2014-15.
Roseboom Commits To Chilliwack:
Forward Ryan Roseboom is among the new recruits listed on the Chilliwack Chiefs roster on the BCHL website. The 18-year-old from Terrace, BC spent 2014-15 with the Osoyoos Coyotes of the Kootenay International Junior B Hockey League. Roseboom had 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists) in 45 games with the Coyotes. He also had one goal in three games with the Chiefs as an affiliate player.
Cowichan-Nanaimo Trade:
The Cowichan Capitals announced the completion of a trade with the Nanaimo Clippers. On January 8th, the Clippers acquired 19-year-old defenseman Ryan Coghlan from the Caps for future considerations, and on Wednesday, we found out that those futures see 19-year-old forward Nicolas Carrier head to Cowichan. Carrier had a stellar rookie season with Nanaimo, scoring 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) in 57 games. He added ten points (five goals, five assists) in 23 playoff games with the Clippers.
McCarthy & Riley Commit To Chiefs:
Defenseman Connor McCarthy has committed to the Chilliwack Chiefs for the 2015-16 season. The 18-year-old from LaSalle, QC, played this past season with Dawson College in the QCHL, posting 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in 36 games. McCarthy is an imposing figure on the ice, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing over 215 pounds. He's committed to attend the University of Denver in September 2016. Also joining the Chiefs is 19-year-old forward Brendan Riley. The West Point, NY native spent 2014-15 playing prep hockey with Kimball Union Academy and tallied 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 33 games. He had 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 37 games with Kimball in 2013-14. Riley's father, Tony, is the head coach of the Army NCAA men's hockey team.
Zieky & Russ Commit To Rivermen:
The Langley Rivermen added two more players to the new recruits section of their roster. Joining Langley are 19-year-old forward Chase Zieky and 19-year-old defenseman Brenden Russ. Zieky is from Avon, CT, and comes to the Rivermen after three seasons with Avon Old Farms Prep School. He was captain at the school in 2014-15 and totaled 45 points (27 goals, 18 assists) in 26 games. During his three year high school hockey career, Zieky had 86 points (43 goals, 43 assists) in 80 games. Russ is a native of Las Vegas, NV who also spent the last three seasons playing high school hockey in the US. Russ skated with Choate Rosemary Hall, where he notched 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 28 games this past season. His overall totals with Choate show 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 80 games.
MacBurnie Commits To Trail:
The Trail Smoke Eaters solidified their goaltending for 2015-16 with the commitment of Bailey MacBurnie. The Beverly, MA, native turns 20 tomorrow, and is fresh off backstopping the Salisbury School Crimson Knights to a New England Prep School Athletic Conference Championship. The Smoke Eaters had the second-highest goals-against in the BCHL in 2014-15, allowing an average of 4.29 goals per game. Adam Todd has aged out of the league, while Brett Clark is eligible to return to Trail's crease in 2015-16
Nanaimo Clippers Up For Sale:
The Nanaimo Clippers are up for sale after 10 years with the current Alberta-based owner group. Part-owner and B.C. Hockey League team governor Ken Wagner confirmed on Monday that the team is for sale, adding "it's time" for a new owner to take the reins. Wagner said the owners are "hoping someone local comes up to the table and wants to be the owners of the club." The ownership group includes former NHL star Kelly Hrudey, Bill Gallacher and Paul Colborne, said Wagner. "It's just time for someone else to own the club. We're all busy, we live in Alberta, it's run its course. We also don't want to send the message that (we're) abandoning the club. That's not what we're doing." The ownership group would prefer a local buyer and are willing to hold on to their shares for the right offer, said Wagner. He said they are not considering relocating the Clippers to another city. "The Nanaimo Clippers actually belong to the city and the people of Nanaimo," he said. He also said the decision to put the club up for sale was not a financial one. "It's a lifestyle choice," he said. "You know, owning a hockey club, you never do it to get rich. You do it for the lifestyle, and like I said, the competitive spirit and the lifestyle of the kids. And that's the one part that I'll miss, is the development of the young men that have run through the program. But like I said, it just takes a lot of time, a lot of energy. .. we've got other interests that have come up." The group has a price in mind, but "that will be privy to people who are serious about buying the club," Wagner said. "We want to find the right buyers," he said. "We're not going to sell to the first guy that comes along with the price that's asked. .. it's really about picking the next partner of the community."
Kootenay Ice 1st Round Pick Mendel Chooses Penticton Vees Over WHL:
With a significant roster overhaul set to hit the Kootenay Ice heading into the 2015-16 Western Hockey League season, the team will need to go about retooling without the services of 2014 first-round selection Griffin Mendel. According to Jeff Chynoweth, Kootenay Ice president and general manager, Mendel has committed his services to the Penticton Vees of the BCHL (Junior A) for the 2015-16 campaign. "It's tough, but every player has choices to make," Chynoweth said Tuesday afternoon. "Griffin, his family and his advisors have made that [decision] for his 16-year-old season. They haven't closed the door moving forward. "From our end, we'll recruit accordingly. It's always tough to recover from [losing] any player like that. But you've still got to prove yourself in the Western Hockey League. Most coaches don't care what round you're drafted in. They want the best players." Mendel, a 6-foot-2, 183-pound defenceman from Kelowna, spent the 2014-15 season with the Okanagan Hockey Academy after being selected by the Ice with the 11th-overall pick of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. He stood as a strong candidate to join the Kootenay Ice blue line this coming season, with defencemen Tanner Faith, Lenny Hackman, Tyler King and Tanner Lishchynsky caught in the 20-year-old squeeze, in addition to 1995-born Rinat Valiev, who will likely graduate to the professional ranks within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. WHL clubs are only permitted to carry three 20-year-olds. Outside of the five 1995-born defencemen, the Ice currently retain five 20-year-old forwards (Ryan Chynoweth, Jon Martin, Luke Philp, Jaedon Descheneau, Sam Reinhart) and 1995-born goaltender Wyatt Hoflin. With Valiev and Reinhart set to go pro, that leaves three over-age slots for nine others to compete for as the roster currently stands. The 16-year-old Mendel sipped his first cup of Junior A coffee by getting into a pair of games with the Vees during the 2014-15 season, notching two penalty minutes. Mendel was a member of Team B.C. at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, though he missed the tournament due to injury. The Kootenay Ice will look to restock the shelves at the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft in Calgary Thursday morning. Follow sports editor Taylor Rocca on Twitter and keep your eyes on dailytownsman.com for more Kootenay Ice bantam-draft coverage Wednesday and Thursday.
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